- As part of 22a, Tenderlonious has flourished alongside Henry Wu, Mo Kolours and the rest. His music is another variation on the South London crew's soul-drenched sound. In contrast to, say, the beat miniatures of Al Dobson Jr., he prefers to stretch things out over long periods, his loosey-goosey grooves and stoned soul chords showing no desire to get anywhere fast. This approach lent itself well to a sprawling EP on Yoruba last year, but this follow-up for 22a feels like too few ideas stretched too thin.
"Bob's Riddim" is mostly just that. Accumulating layers of loose hi-hats, shakers, congas and triangle, it slouches way back against a drum machine. Thoughtful Rhodes chords hold the thing together, later helped by a squiggly bassline. But the restrained, two-chord progression isn't exactly a show-stealer, and when a cool lead soars in for a midpoint solo, it feels like we've jumped from the intro to the breakdown without getting the meat in between. "All Your Way" is also a couple minutes too long, though there's more to it: a voice, riding over another motley crew of drums, and some wonderful starry-eyed chords, straining to break free of the bassline's earthbound thump.
TracklistA All Your Way
B Bob's Riddim